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Author: Veronica Charalambous

Thriving Schools Project Launches to Advance Mental Health and Wellbeing in Education

Written by Veronica Charalambous on . Posted in Project News.

The Thriving Schools Project officially launched with its first transnational partner meeting in Nicosia, held on 12–13 May 2025. The initiative aims to implement a whole-school, systemic approach to mental health and wellbeing across schools in Europe.

Co-funded under the EU’s policy experimentation framework and launched in March 2025, the project brings together partners from Greece, Cyprus, Romania, and Italy. The kickoff meeting focused on aligning visions and mapping out the first steps toward creating evidence-based policies and practices that foster wellbeing and strengthen social-emotional competencies within school communities.

At its core, the project promotes holistic development and resilience by embedding mental health literacy and social-emotional learning (SEL) into every layer of the school ecosystem. The goal is to educate and empower the entire school community—including teachers, school leaders, learners, and parents—to support emotional wellbeing and adopt healthy coping strategies.

Over the next three years, the consortium will co-develop a comprehensive framework and training package grounded in positive psychology. This will include adaptable, practical tools to help schools build cultures of wellbeing and strengthen both individual and collective mental health.

Key activities in the initial phase include:

  • Establishing wellbeing teams in participating schools
  • Co-developing action plans with educators, students, and parents
  • Delivering targeted training to teachers and staff
  • Piloting school-based interventions and practices

These efforts will be piloted in 10 schools across the partner countries between 2026 and 2027, providing critical insights to refine the model and support its broader adoption.

The project is implemented by a multidisciplinary consortium, including:

  • Regional Directorate of Primary and Secondary Education of Epirus – Greece
  • Center for the Advancement of Research and Development in Educational Technology (CARDET) – Cyprus
  • Institute of Development (IoD) – Cyprus
  • International Hellenic University – Greece
  • Directorate of Primary Education of Western Thessaloniki – Greece
  • University of Milano-Bicocca – Italy
  • University of Pitesti – Romania
  • School Inspectorate Arges County – Romania

Each partner contributes vital expertise in mental health, education, and training, playing a key role in the design, piloting, and potential mainstreaming of the Thriving Schools model within their national contexts.

Following the successful launch, the consortium is now focusing on the co-creation of tools and resources tailored to diverse school environments. The ultimate goal is to develop a scalable and policy-relevant model that can be embedded into education systems across Europe.

By promoting emotional wellbeing and resilience across school communities, the Thriving Schools Project aspires to transform how education systems support mental health—creating lasting, positive change for both learners and educators.

Stay tuned for more updates as the project unfolds.

Thriving Schools: A Systemic, Whole School Approach to Mental Health and Well-being

Written by Veronica Charalambous on . Posted in Education, Health & Wellbeing, Projects & Initiatives.

The project aims to develop evidence-based policies and practices aimed at enhancing teachers’ and learners’ well-being and establishing foundational practices that foster social-emotional competencies and holistic development across all school community members.

General Objectives:

● Promote Mental Health and well-being Literacy: Educate school staff, teachers, parents and learners about mental health, emphasizing the importance of early identification and the adoption of healthy coping strategies.

● Cultivate a Positive School Climate: Develop environments that promote psychological well-being, social & emotional learning, resilience, and personal growth, aiming to prevent mental health issues before they arise.

● Empower Educators with innovative practices and resources for mental health and well-being promotion.

MineTOUR Strengthens Community Engagement and Cross-Border Collaboration for Rural Tourism

Written by Veronica Charalambous on . Posted in Project News.

Games can engage and motivate learners, offering hands-on practice and chances to rehearse skills and make mistakes without negative consequences (de Freitas & Ritchey, 2013). One game that has proven especially effective in this context is Minecraft. Minecraft, a sandbox video game, is increasingly used to support learning across subjects and age groups. Its open-ended and immersive environment enables learners to interact with digital worlds, promoting creativity, collaboration, and critical thinking (Karsenti et al., 2017).

This form of learning is increasingly recognised as effective, particularly when combined with real-world themes such as sustainability, cultural awareness, and civic participation. Building on this evidence, the MineTOUR project has begun full production of a set of Minecraft Education scenarios that introduce young people to sustainable and ethical tourism. Players begin their journey at the Green Haven Hotel, a virtual model of an eco-friendly lodge.

From this hub, they teleport to five different European locations, each featuring a themed task that teaches key sustainability principles:
● Cyprus → Protection of loggerhead turtle nests, cleaning a beach and educating
tourists on safe interaction with wildlife.
● Greece → Reconstructing part of the Parthenon using VR drawings and answering
heritage questions.
● Netherlands → Designing a sustainable tulip festival that balances appearance with
local community needs and environmental care.
● Romania → Restoring a polluted river, creating habitat for endemic species and
designing nature-based tourism activities.
● Spain → Organising a more sustainable version of La Tomatina festival with waste
reduction strategies and inclusive design.

The activities aim to build learners’ digital skills while helping them understand the social,
cultural, and environmental aspects of tourism.

For more information, visit the project’s official website.

PERMA Digital – A Whole School Approach to Digital Well-being

Written by Veronica Charalambous on . Posted in Digital Learning, Education, Health & Wellbeing, Projects & Initiatives.

The PERMA-Digital project aims to develop and implement an innovative whole-school systemic programme for well-being in digital education, assessing its impact through mixed methods and experimentations across European countries and validating its potential to be mainstreamed.

The programme will be based on a research-driven pioneering framework to be designed, pairing principles of Positive Education, Positive Psychology, Digital education, and Digital and Life Competencies. Our proposed framework will merge the PERMA model and digital education (henceforth called PERMA – Digital), targeting the purposeful integration of technologies in teaching, learning, assessment for students’ well-being and the development of both teachers’ and students’ skills to benefit from digital technology use while handling the associated risks and challenges.

RECOVER – Contribute to the RECOVERy and reintegration of victims of trafficking through sports

Written by Veronica Charalambous on . Posted in Health & Wellbeing, Projects & Initiatives, Youth, Rights & Inclusion.

The RECOVER project aims to facilitate the recovery and reintegration of victims of trafficking (VoTs) through sports, enhancing their physical and mental health while fostering social inclusion and empowerment. The project will also build the capacity of sports coaches and trainers to design and implement activities tailored to the needs of VoTs.

  1. Contribute to VoTs’ recovery through sports
  2. Build the capacities of sports trainers and coaches
  3. Enhance access to guides and toolkits for professionals assisting VoTs
  4. Encourage collaboration and networking among professionals
  5. Raise public awareness on the role of physical activity in VoTs’ recovery

Rural Routes to Resilience: Discover What’s New in MineTOUR Newsletter #3

Written by Veronica Charalambous on . Posted in Project News.

The third issue of the MineTOUR newsletter highlights how rural tourism initiatives across partner regions are gaining momentum. From study visits in Portugal and Austria to interactive stakeholder workshops, the project continues to support local actors in shaping authentic, sustainable tourism experiences. Learn how MineTOUR’s pilot areas are using storytelling, cultural mapping, and cooperation to enhance visibility and strengthen the rural tourism offer.

Catch up on all the latest developments from the MineTOUR project! Download Newsletter #3 and explore how Europe’s rural destinations are innovating for sustainable tourism growth.

Learn more about the MineTOUR Project here.

Article at Politis for the 20 years of CARDET

CARDET: 20 Years of Innovation and Social Impact through Education

Written by Veronica Charalambous on . Posted in 20 years, Media Highlights.

CARDET marks its 20th anniversary this year, celebrating two decades of meaningful contributions to education, innovation, and social progress. Since its founding in 2004, CARDET has grown into the leading independent research and development center in Cyprus and a key player in the Euro-Mediterranean region.

Mission and Global Reach

Rooted in the belief that education can transform lives, CARDET develops pioneering solutions that foster inclusion, well-being, and equal opportunities. With a commitment to transparency and collaboration, it has forged strategic partnerships with global leaders such as Microsoft, the European Commission, UNICEF, and Yale School of Public Health. Through its work, CARDET has expanded its footprint to over 40 countries, positively impacting the lives of more than 3 million people.

Driving Change through Innovation

CARDET operates across key sectors including education, digital learning, human rights and social inclusion, health and well-being, and sustainable development and entrepreneurship. It responds to today’s pressing challenges by designing cutting-edge programmes—from implementing artificial intelligence in schools, to virtual reality tools and social inclusion strategies for migrant communities. With over 500 completed projects, the organisation blends research and practical action to shape a more inclusive and forward-thinking society.

Looking Ahead

As it looks to the future, CARDET aims to deepen its presence at the European level, expand its global partnerships, and launch new initiatives that respond to evolving societal challenges—always with a human-centered, forward-thinking approach. Its focus remains clear: to empower individuals and communities through education, innovation, and collaboration.

Article Published in Cyprus Mail

GreenYOU Multiplier Event Engages Students at CASA College

Written by Veronica Charalambous on . Posted in Project News.

In May 2025, CASA College successfully hosted the Multiplier Event for the GreenYOU project, drawing the interest of students eager to explore opportunities related to sustainability and green careers.

The multiplier event introduced participants to the GreenYOU project, outlining its aims, target groups, and the specific needs it addresses. Presenters showcased the key activities carried out during the project and the innovative results produced, offering a comprehensive view of GreenYOU’s impact and potential.

A dedicated session explored the concepts of green skills and green jobs, why they matter, how they align with future employment trends, and their value for young people navigating a shifting labour market.

Attendees also received a hands-on introduction to the GreenYOU e-learning platform, gaining direct access to the project’s digital tools and resources, including MOOCs, augmented reality experiences, escape rooms, and animated learning videos.

GreenYOU is a forward-thinking initiative designed to promote climate action and enhance youth employability during the green transition. Through its free online courses and interactive learning tools, the project equips young individuals with essential competencies to actively engage with climate-related challenges.

In addition to supporting learners directly, GreenYOU has developed a tailored Green Curriculum for youth workers. This resource aims to empower educators and mentors with the knowledge and tools to guide young people in developing green skills, fostering a broader culture of sustainability and action among Europe’s youth.

Read more about the project here!

MILES: Bringing Media Literacy to life

Written by Veronica Charalambous on . Posted in Project News.

Platform setup, piloting and new assessment tool

The MILES project continues to move forward with exciting developments! Our team is currently finalising the setup of the online platform where the MILES training modules will soon be available in all partner languages. This multilingual platform will make our training materials easily accessible to teachers and future teachers across Europe, ensuring that language is not a barrier to developing critical media literacy skills.

At the same time, our project partners are preparing to launch pilot activities with teachers and trainee teachers. These pilot sessions will give participants the opportunity to engage with the MILES modules in real educational settings, providing valuable feedback that will help us to further refine our training approach. Piloting is a crucial step in ensuring that the content meets the needs of teachers and is both practical and effective in the classroom.

But that’s not all – following the pilot with teachers, the next phase of the project will focus on students and their families. We will run co-design workshops where students will be actively involved in shaping the learning experience. This will be followed by a series of workshops directly with students and further co-design sessions to ensure that the material reflects their perspectives and realities.

In addition, we are preparing innovative flipped classroom approaches that will involve teachers and families, creating a holistic learning environment that extends beyond the classroom and promotes critical thinking skills in everyday life.

To support the piloting phase, we have developed a new tool to help participants make an initial assessment of their current media literacy skills. This self-assessment provides an initial reflection on key skills and helps participants identify areas for development as they begin their learning journey. The English version of the assessment tool can be found here: MILES Media Literacy Assessment.

If you’re interested in learning more about our activities or would like to get involved, please don’t hesitate to contact us via our contact page.

Together, we are building a strong foundation for fostering critical thinking, resilience to disinformation and responsible media engagement among teachers and students alike. Stay tuned for more updates as we move into the next phases of this exciting journey!

For more information about the project, visit the official website: MILES Project.